According to US Department of Veterans Affairs, there are only 558,000 World War 2 veterans alive in 2017 out of the 16 million. On average, 362 World War 2 veterans die each day. By 2025, there will be less than 100,000 veterans left. In Indiana alone, there is a little over ten thousand World War 2 veterans alive in 2017 (The National WWII Museum, n.d.).

Today, we are honoring the memory of Evansville native and a decorated World War 2 and Korean War veteran. C. Leonard Schlamp was born in Evansville, Indiana on April 23, 1926. He graduated from Central High School in 1944. He fought in World War II in the US Navy on the U.S.S. Essex and in the Korean War as Commander for the Landing Ship (Rocket) Division 32. Schlamp served as shipkeeper of the U.S.S. LCI 962 from 1946 to 1950. After returning home, Schlamp worked as a deckhand, captain, and pilot for the American Barge Line from 1955 to 1987. He was a member of numerous organizations such as the VFW, American Legion, United States Naval Institute, Navy League of the United States, and Sons and Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen. Sadly, he passed away on November 4, 2015 in Evansville, Indiana (Browning Genealogy Database, n.d.; Evansville Courier and Press, n.d.).

United States Navy outfit, n.d. Source: University Archives & Special Collections

Here at the University Archives and Special Collections, we maintain his family collection; moreover, we have an extensive online digital gallery, available 24/7. In his family’s collection, he donated two of his U.S. Navy outfits and caps.